Information for Medical Professionals

Scientists discover 'pain gene'

Scientists have discovered a gene which they believe could explain the different tolerance levels to pain people have.

Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the research shows that a gene uncovered in a study of 578 people suffering from osteoarthritis directly influenced the levels of pain each one experienced.

A subsequent study of 186 healthy individuals showed that those who had the gene experienced enhanced pain sensations.

"As individuals appear to have differing genetic susceptibilities to pain, future studies should be directed toward understanding whether responsiveness to different classes of analgesics is also genetically determined," the researchers claimed.

The gene has also been linked to other chronic pain conditions, such as sciatica, phantom pain, back problems and pancreatitis.

Recent research published in the journal Arthritis Research and Therapy showed that regular exercise, in particular two 15-minute walks a day, can help reduce perceived pain levels in patients suffering from osteoarthritis.

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